Bottle construction



J. F. WATSON BOTTLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 23, 1937 INVENTOR Jay/v F WATSON BY WORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A some CONSTRUCTION John F. Watson, Maplewood, N. J., assignor to The Borden Company, New York, N. Y., a cornotation of New Jersey Application November 23, 1937, Serial No. 176,039

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a some adapted to be closed by a pliable metal closure. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in the construction of a milk bottle so that a cap of pliable metal, such as aluminum foil, may be molded thereon as a seal. Milk bottles heretofore have been sealed with a plug cap of cardboard or similarmaterial, and in some instances sanitary hoods havebeen applied over the top of the capped bottle. My invention is concerned with a construction of milk bottle to which a relatively inexpensive cap can be applied in a simple manner, and in which the cap seals the bottle and protects the pouring portion of the bottle from contamination, is tamper proof, oifers considerable resistance to pressure from inside the bottle, and can be replaced on the botthe bottle below the sealing groove and taken on the line -5 of Figure 3.

tle after removal therefrom. A bottle capped in accordance with my invention does not require the usual plug cap, although it may be employed if so desired.

One object of this invention is to provide a construction of milk bottle obtaining the foregoing advantages.

A further object is to provide a milk bottle employing screw threads in' combination with a pliable metal cap molded thereover.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction of milk bottle employing threads so that a pliable metal closure molded to the top of the bottle may be securely replaced on the bottle, in conjunction with a sealing groove to stretch the closure tightly over the top or pouring lip of the bottle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a particular construction of screw threads for the top of a bottle to facilitate replacement of a I molded pliable metal cap after removal threof. Further objects of the invention will be explained and will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the top portion of a milk bottle showing a. pliable metal can molded in placef Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through approximately the center of the top of the bottle illustrating the cap in place;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a top portion of the bottle with the cap removed;

Figure 4 is ahorizontal sectional view through the sealing groove of the bottle and cap taken on the line 44 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view through 55' With reference to the drawing, numeral 10 indicates generally the neck portion of a milk bottle provided with an outwardly projecting bumper roll or protective flange H, such as described in my copending application S. N. 75,033, filed April 18, 1936. Immediately above the flange II, the pouring section [2 of the bottle is constructed with a slight upward taper, for example about 5 to the vertical, and is thus of a frusto conical shape. Adjacent the flange I], this pouring section I2 is provided with a pillrality of screw threads l3; four of such screw threads are indicated in the drawing, although a greater or smaller number of threads may be used if desired. The lower portions ll of the screw threads l3 are preferably'made wider than the upper portions therof for a purpose described Y below. Immediately above the screw threads l3, and between the screw threads l3 and the pouring opening I5, is a sealing groove l6 formed on the exterior surface of the pouring section II.

A number of projections I! in the nature of lugs are preferably formed in the groove l6 so that they are approximately flush with the exterior of the pouring section I 2.

It is contemplated that the closure l8 of pliable metal be molded over'the pouring section [2 of this bottle to provide a tight, leak-proof packagewithoutemploying the usual plug seal ordinarily used with milk bottles. I have found that this object may be obtained using a bottle constructed in accordance with my invention. However, my invention.- does not exclude the use of a plug cap ifthis is considered desirablefor any reason.

The cap [8 may be formed by a single pressing operation from a disc of thin, pliable metal, such as aluminum foil, into a blank having a skirt extending. down about to the flange II. The top of the cap may be suitably embossed, if desired, when the blank is shaped. This blank maythenbe placed onthe top of the bottle and subse-' quently secured in place by applying pneumatic.

or similar pressure to this. skirt around the top of the bottle, to mold the foil to the exterior of The foil is i preventing seepage and resisting considerable pressure from within the bottle, such as might be developed by freezing or partial freezing of the bottle contents. The cap tlius molded to the bottle also provides a tamper-proof closure, making it clearly apparent to a consumer when an attempt has been made to remove the closure from the bottle. In addition, the cap protects the pouring lip of the bottle against contamination due to dust, dirt, contact with the hands, etc., and still serves this sanitary function after being removed from the bottle and replaced by the consumer.

The cap I8 is readily removed from the bottle for the first time by rotating the cap with respect to the bottle. The threads formed in the cap cooperate with the threads on the bottle to lift the cap as it is rotated, thus expanding or releasing the portion of the cap in the sealing groove It. The lugs II serve this purpose also, but because of the lifting action of the threads they are not necessary, the threads preferably having sufflcient lifting strength to release the metal from the sealing groove without stripping the threads from the skirt of the cap. It is preferred, however, to employ the lugs II or their equivalent to reduce any possible tendency to strip the threads formed in the skirt of the cap upon removal of the cap from the bottle. When such lugs are employed, they should not project from the bottle surface far enough to injure or destroy the threads in the cap skirt during removal of the cap.

The uppermost portion of the bottle is also preferably provided with a slightexternal upward taper and the lower portion of the threads on the bottle are preferably made wider than the upper portions thereof to facilitate replacement of the cap after it has been removed. Due to the tight, glove-like fit of the threads in the cap skirt to the threads I! on the bottle, it is desirable to make the lower portions of the threads molded into the skirt of the cap slightly larger than the upper portions of the threads on the bottle with which they must first come in contact when the cap is being replaced on the bottle. An ease of replacement is thus obtained.

minimizing the possibility of destroying or damaging the threads on the pliable metal closure when it is replaced on the bottle. The enlarged lower portions 14 of the threads i3 also provide stops when the cap i8 is being replaced, thereby preventing stripping of the threads formed in the skirt of the cal The use of the annular-flange ii is particularly important in connection with the use of threads on the bottle in accordance with my invention because slight damage to the threads through handling of the bottle might be suillcient to require rejection of the entire bottle for future use. In addition, this annular flange prevents the hand from slipping up and accidentally dislodging or partially removing the cap during handling of the bottle after it has been filled and sealed.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation. and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalentsof the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

neck portion, a pouring opening at the top of said neck portion, an outwardly projecting annular flange around said neck portion near said opening, screw threads formed in the exterior surface of said neck portion above said flange, and a sealing groove formed in said surface above said threads, with a pliable metal closure covering said opening and having a. skirt portion extending down to said flange and molded about said threads and groove, said skirt portion being protected by said flange, and said closure being removable by rotation with respect to said bottle without destroying the screw threads molded in said skirt portion.

2. The combination of a milk bottle having a neck portion, a pouring opening at the top of said neck portion, an outwardly projecting annular flange around said neck portion near said opening, screw threads formed in the exterior surface of said neck portion above said flange having enlarged lower portions, a sealing groove formed in said surface above said threads, and expanding lugs in said groove, with a pliable metal closure covering said opening and having a skirt portion extending down to said flange and molded about said threads and groove, said skirt portion being protected by said flange, and said closure being removable by rotation with respect to said bottle without destroying the screw threads molded in said skirt portion.

3. The combination of a bottle or like container having a neck portion, a pouring opening at the top of said neck portion, an upwardly tapered 1. The combination of a milk bottle having a section of said neck portion adjoining said opening, a screw thread formed in the exterior surface of said section, and an interrupted sealing depression formed in said surface above said thread, with a thin pliable integral metal closure molded over said opening and having a skirt portion extending down and molded around said thread and depression, said thread and sealing depression serving to hold said closure in place securely while permitting removal of said closure by rotation without obliterating the thread formed in said skirt by said thread on said section.

4. A- bottle or like container provided with a neck portion comprising an annular bead defining the mouth of said container, grooves adjoining said bead, an outwardly and downwardly inclined surface adjoining said grooves and a plurality of threads of substantially equal height throughout their length raised from said inclined surface, in combination with a cup-like closure cap of thin, pliabl metal having a continuous skirt molded in conformity to said neck portion to form detents engaging said grooves,

and skirt threads engaging said neck threads, whereby said cap is removable by simultaneous rotation and obliteration of said detents without alteration of said skirt threads.

5. A bottle or like container provided with a neck portion comprising an annular bead defining the mouth of said container, horizontal grooves of curved formation adjoining said head, an outwardly and downwardly inclined surface adjoining said grooves, arcuate groove spacing projections merging into said bead. and said inclined surface, and a plurality of threads of substantially equal height throughout their length raised from said inclined surface, in combination with a cup-like closure cap of metal foil having a continuous skirt molded in conformity to saidneck portion to form detents engaging said grooves and skirt. threads engaging said neck threads, whereby said cap is removable by simultaneous rotation and obliteration of said detents without alteration of said skirt threads.

6. A bottle or like container provided with a neck portion comprising an outwardly and downwardly inclined annular bead defining the mouth of said container, horizontal grooves of curved formation adjoining said bead, an outwardly and downwardly inclined annular surface adjoining said grooves, arcuate groove spacing projections merging into said bead and said inclined surface, and a plurality of threads raised from said inclined surface, said threads being of substantially equal height throughout their length and and said inclined surface, and a pluralityof threads raised from said inclined surface, said threads being of substantially equal height throughout their length and having 'upper portions of reduced width, in combination with a cup-likeclosure cap of metal foil having a continuous skirt'molded in conformity to said neck portion to form detents engaging said grooves and skirt threads engaging said neck threads, whereby said cap is removable by simultaneous rotation and obliteration of. said detents without having upper portions of reduced width, in comhorizontal arcuate contour merging into said bead alteration of said skirt threads.

8. A bottle or like container provided with a neck portion adapted to have a cup-like closure cap of thin pliable metal with a continuous skirt molded thereover, said neck portion having a mouth, a circumferential sealing groove adjoin-- ing said mouth, a plurality of expanding projections in said groove, an outwardly and down- -wardly inclined surface adjoining said groove,

and a plurality of threads raised from said inclined surface, said groove and projections serving to seal a molded cap in place and prevent accidental removal thereof although permitting expansion of the cap skirt upon rotation of such a cap with respect to the container, and said threads serving to form cooperating threads in the skirt of such a cap.

' JOHN F. WATSON, 

